Call of Duty glossary: Gulag, Resurgence, DMZ, Legacy and more

Each term has its own link and leads to the site page where the topic appears with the official source.

Warzone (37)

Battle Royale: Warzone's main mode: many squads drop onto the same large map, gather gear and fight each other while the safe area keeps shrinking. The last squad standing wins. Learn more
Resurgence: A faster take on Battle Royale on a smaller map: while your squad is still alive, eliminated players can come back after a short wait. Matches are shorter and busier. Learn more
Gulag: The Warzone arena you are sent to after your first elimination in Battle Royale. It hosts a one-on-one duel, and the winner gets a chance to return to the map. Learn more
Legacy weapon: In Warzone from Modern Warfare 4 Season 1, weapons from earlier games stay available as Legacy: they sit in their own loadout tab and cannot be edited in the Gunsmith. Learn more
Buy Station: A Battle Royale spot where you trade the resources gathered during the match for gear. In Warzone Season 1, some arrive by drone and sell weapon upgrades; in Mobile's Verdansk, they can also bring an eliminated teammate back. Learn more
Weapon upgrade: New in Warzone Season 1: a weapon boost in three types (close range, precision and handling), sold at drone-delivered Buy Stations in limited supply. Learn more
Collector drone: A new Warzone Season 1 tool: a drone with limited battery that fetches items, map objects, weapons in hard-to-reach spots and even downed teammates. Learn more
Tactical Sprint: The game's fastest run. In Warzone Season 1, it returned for every operator without needing a perk, but it lasts a little less. Learn more
Rally Point: A limited-time Warzone practice mode on the Zodiac map: up to 20 players, no circle and infinite respawns, drop in and out any time and form alliances in neutral areas. Great for learning the map and testing weapons. Learn more
Redeploy: Getting back into the match after being eliminated. In Battle Royale this usually goes through the Gulag or a buyback; in Resurgence it happens on its own while your squad is alive, and some modes keep your loadout or give a bonus on your next redeploy. Learn more
Circle and gas: In Battle Royale the circle marks the safe area of the map. It shrinks in stages, and anyone left outside, in the gas, slowly loses health. That is why every match pushes everyone toward the same spot at the end. Learn more
Zipline launcher: A Warzone tool that stretches a zipline between two points. Any player can ride it, enemies included, so think carefully about where you set it up. Learn more
Massive Resurgence: A Season 1 limited-time mode that takes Resurgence, with its respawns, to the large Hajin map with up to 120 players. Learn more
Loaded Resurgence: A limited-time mode for up to 44 players where you drop in with your own loadout and keep your weapons after you respawn. Learn more
Grind for Royalty: Personal Warzone challenges built from your own stats. They reset every season and reward gold camos. Not related to the multiplayer Grind mode. Learn more
Operator Skin Toggle: A Warzone option, off by default, that makes other players' operators from older games appear to you as Modern Warfare 4 operators. It only changes what you see. Learn more
Point of interest: Each named location on a Battle Royale map, where you can land and look for items. Call of Duty: Mobile's Verdansk has eighteen, according to the Season 10 post. Learn more
World objects: In Warzone Season 1, map items you can use: fuel barrels you can carry, and dumpsters, concrete cylinders and pyramids you can push to build blockades. Learn more
Dynamic weather: On Hajin, in Warzone, the weather changes during the match, with fog, wind, rain and distant storms, which changes how far you can see. Learn more
Drag teammate: Pulling a downed teammate to a safer spot while reviving them. It came to Warzone in Season 1 and to Call of Duty: Mobile's Verdansk in Season 10. Learn more
Advanced UAV: A stronger version of the UAV. In the Modern Warfare 4 Beta notes, Warzone stopped merging several active UAVs into an Advanced UAV. Learn more
Revive: Picking up a downed teammate before they are eliminated. In the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, Warzone began allowing revives even while lying prone. Learn more
Quads: Matches with teams of four players. In the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, Resurgence on Zodiac had Quads and casual Quads. Learn more
Drop Kit: A Resurgence consumable in Zodiac, used up when you redeploy. There are four: Insured (faster return, keep your cash), Armored (return with vest and plates), Loadout (return with your class) and Radar (return with radar on). You can only carry one at a time. Learn more
Ground Ops: A Warzone system that debuted in Season 1: activities spread around the map, such as shooting down drones, using a watchtower or opening vaults, each with a guaranteed reward. Learn more
High-value loot zone: An area of the map with better items in battle royale. In Season 1 they went from three to one per match, and the spot is drawn every game instead of changing only each season. Learn more
Supply Run: A Warzone contract that, since Season 1, upgrades the Buy Station so it sells extra items. You have to interact with the station to complete it. Learn more
Neutral zone: A no-combat area in the Rally Point mode, with stations to change class, get back into the game and collect rewards. It is where you can form a team of up to four. Learn more
Elite perk: A fourth perk slot Warzone gained in Season 1. The options named in the notes are Athleticism, Fieldcraft and Phantom, which rotate during the season. Learn more
Incognito: A new base perk in Warzone Season 1: it shortens how long enemy radar shows you. Learn more
Stocked: A new base perk in Warzone Season 1: it gives you one extra lethal and one extra tactical. Learn more
Deft Hands: A new base perk in Warzone Season 1: it makes swapping armor plates faster. Learn more
Wingman: A new base perk in Warzone Season 1: it makes bringing teammates back cheaper. Learn more
Private match: A match set up only with people you invite. In Warzone it is turned off for all of Season 1, according to the official notes. Learn more
Hajin: The large battle royale map in Warzone Season 1, with 13 points of interest split between North and South Korea. The weather is drawn at the start of each match. Learn more
Zodiac: The Resurgence map in Warzone Season 1, with 10 points of interest inside a drone factory in South Korea. It also hosts the Rally Point mode. Learn more
Verdansk: One of the best-known maps in the series, from Warzone's battle royale. In Call of Duty: Mobile Season 10 it comes to the phone's battle royale and DMZ: Recon, with 18 points of interest. On this site, the Mobile and Warzone versions of Verdansk have separate pages. Learn more

Multiplayer and modes (40)

Ground War: A multiplayer match type with much larger teams and vehicles, on big maps. In Modern Warfare 4, the launch maps are set in Hajin. Learn more
Gunfight: A duos mode: two players against two others in short rounds, on small dedicated maps. Everyone's loadout changes every few rounds. Learn more
Hardcore: A tougher version of multiplayer modes: less on-screen information, friendly fire on and less health, with no automatic recovery. In Modern Warfare 4, many launch modes have this version. Learn more
Grind: A multiplayer mode where each team collects the tags left by opponents and only scores when it brings them to a bank. The challenge is picking the right moment to risk the delivery. Learn more
Drop Zone: A multiplayer mode where teams fight over an area that moves every so often. The team holding the area earns reward packages. Learn more
Infected: A multiplayer party mode where one team keeps growing while the other tries to hold out until time runs out. In Modern Warfare 4, it returned in the preseason. Learn more
Inflation: A new Modern Warfare 4 mode where each elimination earns in-game money for the team. Players carrying a lot show up for everyone on the map and drop part of it when downed. The team with the most money at the end wins. Learn more
Combat Outpost: A new Modern Warfare 4 Ground War mode, similar to Domination: capturing outposts earns points and new places to respawn, and reinforcing them unlocks team rewards. Learn more
UAV: A reconnaissance drone that shows enemy positions on the minimap for a while. It is one of the most common scorestreaks: in the Modern Warfare 4 launch notes it costs 5 eliminations and became tougher. In Collateral it can be bought for the team. Learn more
Scorestreak: A reward unlocked when a player chains eliminations and objective actions without being eliminated, such as the UAV. Modern Warfare 4 introduced a meter that also counts actions like capturing a point, for players who play the objective. Learn more
Perk: A passive ability picked in your loadout that slightly changes how you play, for example making scorestreaks cheaper or helping you stay off radar. In Modern Warfare 4 perks unlock as you level up. Learn more
Hardline: A classic perk that makes scorestreaks cheaper. In the Modern Warfare 4 launch notes, for example, the UAV drops from 5 to 4 eliminations with it. Learn more
Field Upgrade: A special loadout item that recharges over time during a match and can be used again once it is full. In Modern Warfare 4 Field Upgrades are among the things unlocked by leveling up. Learn more
Team Deathmatch: A classic multiplayer mode: two teams score a point for each opponent eliminated, and the first to the score limit, or the team ahead when time runs out, wins. Learn more
Free-For-All: A mode with no teams: every player is on their own and whoever scores the most wins. Learn more
Domination: A mode where teams fight over fixed points on the map. Each point captured and held earns score over time. Ground War's Combat Outpost is the large version of this mode. Learn more
Hardpoint: A mode with a single zone that moves every so often. The team holding it with no opponents inside scores points, so you have to keep moving with the zone. Learn more
Kill Confirmed: Like Team Deathmatch, but a point only counts when someone on your team picks up the tag the eliminated opponent drops. Grabbing a teammate's tag stops the other team from scoring. Learn more
Search and Destroy: A round-based mode with no respawns: one team tries to plant a bomb at one of two sites and the other defends or defuses. If you go down you only return next round, so every play matters. Learn more
Frontline: A mode where everyone always respawns at their own team's base, and eliminations made outside the base are worth more. Learn more
Hijack: A new Modern Warfare 4 mode: teams fight over an object, the Data Spike, which can be carried, thrown and passed to the other team's station. Once planted, it scores over time. Learn more
Collateral: A new round-based Modern Warfare 4 mode with no respawns and a buy phase: everyone starts with a pistol and a little in-game cash and buys weapons, armor and even a UAV. If you go down you lose your gear but keep the cash. Learn more
Kill Block: A Modern Warfare 4 map shaped like a training facility that changes layout between rounds, with over 500 combinations according to the official post. It is used in 3v3 and 10v10 Gunfight. Learn more
Gun Game: A party mode where each elimination swaps your weapon for the next one on a list. The first to reach the end of the list wins. Learn more
Truce flag: A DMZ mode item that, as the name says, is used to call a truce. The Modern Warfare 4 launch notes greatly shortened the wait before using it again. Learn more
Dive: The move of throwing yourself to the ground, often used to dodge fire. In Modern Warfare 4 its speed was briefly reduced to close a movement exploit and later restored. Learn more
Ghost: A perk that hides you from enemy alerts, the UAV, the portable radar and the heartbeat sensor. A good fit for players who like to flank. Learn more
Wheelson: A Modern Warfare 4 scorestreak: an AI-controlled vehicle that hunts targets or guards its owner's area. Learn more
Scavenger: A perk that makes defeated enemies drop ammo, handy for players who burn through a lot of rounds. Learn more
Cold-Blooded: A perk that hides you from AI targeting, thermal optics and recon drones. Learn more
Mantle Slide: In Modern Warfare 4, chaining a slide right after vaulting over a low obstacle, such as a car hood. Learn more
Mantle Steering: In Modern Warfare 4, the ability to turn, aim or cancel the move halfway through a climb, instead of being locked into a fixed animation. Learn more
Supine Slide: In Modern Warfare 4, a longer and lower slide, done by pressing crouch twice while sprinting, that ends with the character lying on their back. Learn more
Pipe Climb: In Modern Warfare 4, climbing pipes attached to building walls; crouching while sliding down a pipe makes you descend faster. Learn more
Hang Shimmy: In Modern Warfare 4, moving sideways while hanging from a ledge; with Hang Lean, you can lean out and aim from that position. Learn more
Bomb Glider: A Modern Warfare 4 scorestreak: a glider steered by the player, with new mouse-and-keyboard controls. Learn more
Mobility Course: A Modern Warfare 4 Beta training area for learning the new movement: guided tutorials first, then timed runs at three levels, graded from C- to S. Learn more
Spawns: Places on the map where a player comes back into the match after being eliminated. On the first day of the Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta, they got more separation between teams. Learn more
Camera bob: The up-and-down motion of the first-person view as the character moves. The Modern Warfare 4 Beta added an option to reduce it, useful for anyone who feels sick from screen motion. Learn more
Limited-time mode: A mode that is only available for part of a season and then leaves. Mobile examples in 2026: Hardpoint: Mayhem in multiplayer and Lockdown on Rebirth Island, in Season 7. Learn more

Weapons and loadout (25)

Loadout: The kit you take into a match: primary weapon, secondary weapon, equipment and perks. You build and save your loadouts in the game menu. Learn more
Gunsmith: The game's weapon bench, where you swap a weapon's attachments (barrel, optic, stock and more) to make it your own. Learn more
Apex Attachment: A special part for Modern Warfare 4 weapons, unlocked when the weapon reaches max level. It changes how the weapon works and does not use an attachment slot. Learn more
Prestige Attachment: A special part for many Black Ops 7 weapons, unlocked by taking the weapon to max level and then Prestiging it. Each one has its own effect. Learn more
Mastery camo: A weapon finish unlocked by completing challenges with it. Mastery camos are the hardest ones and show that you have mastered the weapon. Learn more
Weapon blueprint: A version of a weapon that already exists, with its own look and sometimes with attachments already fitted. It comes from the Battle Pass, challenges or the store and is not a new weapon. Learn more
Reticle: The aiming mark inside an optic. In Modern Warfare 4 each optic has extra reticles unlocked by getting eliminations with it, and the progress counts in every mode. Learn more
Build code: A code that lets you share a weapon build with other people. Legacy weapons in Warzone do not have this option. Learn more
Weapon Prestige: When a weapon hits max level, its level can go back to 1 with attachments locked again, except the Apex part and blueprints. In return you get dedicated camos. After the first one, Weapon Prestige Master begins, which no longer resets. Learn more
Overkill: A perk that swaps your secondary for a second primary weapon, such as an assault rifle plus a shotgun. In Modern Warfare 4 it takes up the first perk group slot. Learn more
Gunny: A Modern Warfare 4 Gunsmith helper that suggests builds using only the attachments you have already unlocked, with close-range, balanced and long-range options. Learn more
Lethal equipment: The loadout slot for items that deal damage, such as frag grenades, semtex, proximity mines, Claymores, C4 and throwing knives. Learn more
Tactical equipment: The loadout slot for items that hinder or reveal enemies rather than deal damage, such as flash, smoke and concussion grenades, the heartbeat sensor and Stim. Learn more
Hip fire: Shooting without aiming down sights. In Modern Warfare 4, the random spread of hip fire was removed: the bullet goes where the gun points, but sway, recoil and movement still matter. Learn more
Laser sight: An attachment that projects a beam of light. In Modern Warfare 4, it shows the bullet path, which changes with weapon movement, including in replays. Learn more
Trip Wire: Modern Warfare 4 equipment: a mine that forms a line on the floor, on a wall or vertically; mines from nearby teammates link together. Learn more
Smoke Wall: Modern Warfare 4 equipment: a drone that leaves a trail of smoke to block vision, and that smoke can be scattered by explosions. Learn more
Razor Wire: Modern Warfare 4 equipment: a wire barrier that slows anyone sprinting or sliding over it and can be broken with attacks. Learn more
Riot shield: In Modern Warfare 4, it returns as a temporary item: it protects you from the front and can be planted on the ground as cover. Learn more
Time to kill: How much firing time a weapon needs to take down an opponent. In the Modern Warfare 4 Beta notes, weapons were tuned so players could take a few more hits, and the studio said it would keep adjusting this until launch. Learn more
Aim assist: A built-in game feature that makes aiming with a controller easier. In the Modern Warfare 4 Beta it was reduced for everyone, Warzone included. Don't confuse it with outside programs that promise to aim for you: that is cheating and leads to bans. Learn more
Reserve ammo: Rounds a player carries besides the ones in the magazine. In the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, weapons with fewer than 60 reserve rounds got one extra magazine. Learn more
Firing range: A Create-a-Class space for testing a weapon and its build before a match. It was already in the Modern Warfare 4 Beta. Learn more
Default class: A ready-made loadout the game offers before players build their own. In the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, the Axion and the Sang 9mm only appeared in default classes, without Gunsmith. Learn more
Grabber Drone: A Field Upgrade added to Warzone in Season 1: a drone that grabs objects from a distance. Learn more

Progression and store (25)

Season and Reloaded: The game's year is split into seasons, each with new maps, modes, weapons and operators. A second wave of content, called Reloaded, usually arrives in the middle of each season. Learn more
Battle Pass: Each season's reward track, which you unlock by playing. Part of it is free and part is paid; in Call of Duty: Mobile Season 10, for example, the new Signal 50 weapon is on the free side. Learn more
Operator: The character you pick to play. It is a cosmetic choice: each season can bring new operators, each with its own way to unlock. Learn more
BlackCell: The most complete version of each season's Battle Pass. It includes the pass, its own operator, extra skins and weapon blueprints and tier skip tokens. It is paid, and everything it adds is cosmetic or a convenience. Learn more
COD Points: The in-game currency, used to buy the Battle Pass and store items. It only comes from inside the game or the platforms' official stores: anyone promising free COD Points through a website, video or message is trying to scam you. Learn more
Double XP token: An item that doubles the experience you earn for a while. In Modern Warfare 4, the token's timer is paused while you are outside a match. Learn more
Tier skip token: A token that lets you claim rewards further along the Battle Pass track without playing up to them. It comes with the paid pass bundles. Learn more
Reloaded: The mid-season update of each season, bringing a second wave of content. Its date only goes on the site calendar once the official source publishes it. Learn more
Patch notes: The official text Call of Duty publishes with each update, listing what changed in weapons, maps and modes. The site sums up weapon changes in its own words, always with a link to the notes. Learn more
Prestige: An option that shows up when a player reaches max level: the level goes back to 1 in exchange for new rewards. Modern Warfare 4 has 10 Prestiges, each in Classic mode (resets unlocks) or Regular mode (keeps everything), followed by Prestige Master, which goes up to level 1,000. Learn more
Prestige Master: The stage after the 10th Prestige in Modern Warfare 4: your level keeps going up without resetting, from 56 to 1,000. Weapons work in a similar way: after their last Weapon Prestige they move to a master level that no longer resets. Learn more
Daily challenges: Tasks that change every day and give extra XP. In Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer there are three per day, with a bonus for finishing all three, and you can swap one of them each day. Learn more
Calling card: An image shown next to your name in the game, like a business card. The rarest ones, including animated cards, come from sets of challenges by category. Learn more
Armory: An unlock area where player experience gradually releases rewards. In Season 1 Warzone, that is where Legacy weapon blueprints get unlocked. Learn more
Permanent Unlock Token: A Classic Prestige reward that keeps one item of your choice unlocked forever, even after your unlocks are reset again. Learn more
Battle Pass catch-up: A Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 Battle Pass system for late starters: with the paid pass, you are brought up to the reward matching the current day of the season, up to day 50. Learn more
Open Beta: A test period before launch when players try part of the game. Modern Warfare 4's began on August 21, 2026, with early access for players with a code or a pre-purchase. Learn more
Activision account: The account that stores your Call of Duty progress. When a console stops being supported, like PS4 and Xbox One in Warzone Season 1, progress continues on another platform with the same linked account. Learn more
Early Access: A period when only some players get in before everyone else. In the Modern Warfare 4 Beta it was the first weekend, open to those with a Beta code or a pre-order; the second weekend was open to all. Learn more
Level cap: The highest level you can reach in a given period. In the Modern Warfare 4 Beta it was 20 on the first weekend and 30 on the second, and XP beyond the cap did not carry over to the next weekend. Learn more
Cosmetic reward: An item that only changes looks, such as an emblem, sticker, spray, calling card, loading screen or Operator skin. After the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, gameplay progress was reset, but cosmetic rewards carried over to the full game. Learn more
Weapon charm: A purely cosmetic ornament hanging from the weapon. In the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, charms were given as level rewards and for completing a Mobility Course run. Learn more
Rarity: A label shown on cosmetic items, such as epic and legendary. The Modern Warfare 4 Beta rewards carried these labels; rarity does not change how strong a weapon is. Learn more
Vault Edition: A Modern Warfare 4 edition whose pre-order included extra Operators. In the Beta, Ghost, Valeria and Blix came with it. Buy only from the platforms' official stores. Learn more
Pre-order bonus: A reward for pre-ordering a game before launch. Anyone who pre-ordered a digital edition of Modern Warfare 4 by 10/23/2026 gets the ICR-1 — Shattered Relay blueprint in Mobile, as long as they use the same Activision account in both games. Learn more

Mobile (18)

Field upgrades: In Call of Duty: Mobile's Verdansk Battle Royale, the new name for the old scorestreaks: they show up less often and go into your loadout before the match. Learn more
120 Hz mode: A performance mode that makes the picture smoother on compatible screens. With the Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 patch notes, it opened to everyone on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S with a 120 Hz display, even without VRR, which is still recommended. Learn more
DMZ: Recon: Call of Duty: Mobile's extraction mode. In Season 10 it arrives in Verdansk with a new boss and a new prison contract. Learn more
Second chance: A rule in Call of Duty: Mobile's Verdansk Battle Royale: on your first elimination you go to a fight to get back in, and if you lose, a teammate can still bring you back at a buy station. Learn more
Wingsuit: A suit used to glide in Call of Duty: Mobile's Battle Royale. On Season 10's Verdansk, it is replaced by the parachute during the match. Learn more
Special card: The old name for abilities in Call of Duty: Mobile's Battle Royale. On Season 10's Verdansk, they become perks: the official post lists thirteen. Learn more
Contract: An optional in-match mission that gives a reward when completed. Call of Duty: Mobile's Verdansk gained contracts, and DMZ: Recon a new contract at the prison. Learn more
The Chemist: A new boss in DMZ: Recon, Call of Duty: Mobile's extraction mode, added with Verdansk in Season 10. Learn more
Create Your Truth: A limited-time Call of Duty: Mobile mode in Season 10: a story experience in Verdansk where you return whenever you go down; finishing it gives a calling card, frame and avatar. Learn more
Challenge Pass: In Call of Duty: Mobile, a pass named in the official posts alongside the Battle Pass. In Season 8 of 2026, the Static-HV SMG came through it. Learn more
Plunder: A mode where the goal is to collect cash. It debuted in Mobile for a limited time in Season 2 of 2026, with squads of three in Isolated racing to 1 million. Learn more
Isolated: A battle royale map in Call of Duty: Mobile. In 2026 it hosted Plunder in Season 2 and Plunder Treasure Hunt in Season 6, with chests guarded by waves of enemies. Learn more
Armored Royale: A squad battle royale in Mobile where each player starts near their own armored vehicle. It arrived in Season 5 of 2026. Learn more
Tactical Mirror: A Call of Duty: Mobile battle royale class that arrived in Season 3 of 2026: it duplicates items and ammo. Learn more
Serpent Island: A DMZ: Recon map, Mobile's extraction mode. In Season 3 of 2026 it got a quick match on a smaller part of the island, for up to four squads. Learn more
Rebirth Island: A prison island that came to Mobile's DMZ: Recon in Season 4 of 2026, with prison gates that open over time and an extraction that starts with a boss fight. It returned to the phone's battle royale the same season. Learn more
Boss: A strong game-controlled enemy in Mobile's DMZ: Recon. New bosses arrived in Seasons 2 and 10 of 2026 (that one is The Chemist), and on Rebirth Island the extraction starts with a fight against one. Learn more
Faction event: A Mobile event where each player picks a side and completes tasks for it. In 2026 there was one in Season 5, Fang Wars in Season 9 and Operation: Verdansk Convergence in Season 10, with three factions. Learn more

PC and performance (12)

Enhanced FOV: A PC-only option in Modern Warfare 4 that uses a lens effect to widen the field of view near the screen edges without changing the center, where your aim is. Learn more
Frames per second (FPS): How many images the game draws each second; the more, the smoother. Modern Warfare 4's official PC target is 90 per second in multiplayer on the recommended tier with High graphics. Learn more
System requirements: The official list of parts a computer needs to run the game. Modern Warfare 4 has three tiers: minimum, recommended and ray tracing, all with an SSD required. Learn more
TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot: Two motherboard security features Modern Warfare 4 requires on PC. They often come turned off and are turned on in the BIOS; ask an adult who knows the computer for help. Learn more
Upscaler: Technology that draws the picture at a lower resolution and scales it up to gain frames. Modern Warfare 4 offers NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR Redstone and Intel XeSS 3. Learn more
Ray tracing: A technique that calculates light, shadows and reflections more realistically but is heavier on the computer. In Modern Warfare 4 it works in the campaign, multiplayer and DMZ. Learn more
Benchmark tool: A built-in tool that runs a simulated match and shows frames, processor and graphics card use, ping and input latency live, with setting suggestions at the end. Learn more
Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD): A Modern Warfare 4 PC feature where shaders arrive already prepared, so the game opens faster without the long first-time compilation. Learn more
HDR10+: A picture standard with more contrast and brightness. In Modern Warfare 4 the game adjusts these values by itself in real time, without sliders. Learn more
RICOCHET: Call of Duty's layered anti-cheat system: server-side detection, protection tied to TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, investigations and legal action. Cheating can get you banned. Learn more
Preload: Downloading the game before launch so you can play as soon as it opens. Modern Warfare 4's PC preload started on October 15, 2026 for digital pre-purchasers. Learn more
Two-factor authentication: Account protection that asks for a second code besides the password when signing in. The official Modern Warfare 4 PC post recommends turning it on, along with email verification. Never give this code to anyone. Learn more

DMZ (36)

DMZ: An extraction mode: you enter the map with your squad, complete missions, collect items and must leave through an extraction point to take what you found with you. Learn more
3D printer: A Modern Warfare 4 DMZ feature, unlocked at the mode's first level, that crafts survival gear from recipes. The DMZ guide from 10/09/2026 places the printer at level 2; trust what the game shows. Learn more
UAV tower: A structure in DMZ mode found around the map. Since the Modern Warfare 4 launch notes, towers spawn in random places and in smaller numbers, with no guarantee of one in each region. Learn more
Forward Operating Base (FOB): The Modern Warfare 4 DMZ menu, where the player stays between one infil and the next. It holds permanent progress: Operators, Stash, 3D printer, Boss Board, Vendor and Gunsmith, which unlock as the DMZ level goes up. Learn more
Infil: Each entry into the Hajin map in DMZ. Before going in, the player picks the kind of mission and how to arrive: by land is free, while vehicles, helicopter or cargo plane cost DMZ Cash. Learn more
Exfil: Leaving the map at the end of a DMZ infil. Only those who exfil keep their items; if it fails, anything not in a Secure Slot of the Backpack is lost. In Hajin there are exfils by green smoke, helicopter, Fulton balloon or flare. Learn more
MIA (Missing in Action): Status of a DMZ Operator who goes down in an infil. They cannot deploy again until recovered with DMZ Cash (the price grows with their Traits) or dismissed; they come back without their gear but with their Traits. Learn more
Active Duty Operator slots: How many Operators a player can have ready in DMZ at once. It starts at two (three with the Vault Edition) and grows with DMZ level; the same character cannot fill two slots. Learn more
Traits: Permanent upgrades for each DMZ Operator, bought with points earned on their dog tag (up to 18). They sit in three trees, Warfighter, Scout and Survivalist, with 22 Traits each. The choice cannot be undone. Learn more
Operator dog tag: Each DMZ Operator's level: 18 steps in six tiers, Steel, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Damascus and Onyx. Each step gives one Trait point. Learn more
DMZ Operator Prestige: A Prestige that belongs only to the Operator, separate from the player's Prestige. With 18 Trait points, you hand in rare or better gear, ingredients and DMZ Cash; Traits reset and the Operator gains a random permanent Trait, up to three. Learn more
Stash: The DMZ storage, shared by all Active Duty Operators. It holds up to 40 items and 12 weapons, counted separately. Learn more
Backpack and Secure Slots: The Backpack is what you carry in a DMZ infil: the basic one has 8 slots, and bigger ones add room and Secure Slots, which protect an item even if the exfil fails. Learn more
DMZ Cash: The DMZ mode currency, earned in game and shared by the player's Operators. It pays for vehicle infils, Operator recovery, the Vendor, the DMZ Gunsmith and Operator Prestige. Learn more
DMZ Orders: Missions that teach the DMZ mode and tell its story. The official guide recommends following them in the first week, since they explain the basics and pay well. Learn more
Story Missions: One of the three ways to enter DMZ: missions with a briefing, rewards and milestone bonuses. Learn more
Dynamic Operations: One of the three ways to enter DMZ: operations that pay cash and XP and give the squad an increasingly rare supply drop (Common, Uncommon and Rare) for each one completed. Learn more
Free Roam: One of the three ways to enter DMZ: exploring Hajin without a mission. The official guide recommends it for gathering 3D printer ingredients. Learn more
Wanted: Status of a player who downs four other players' Operators in DMZ: a bounty is placed on them and nearby players are alerted. To clear it, exfil without your own dog tag, go down without exfilling, or pay at a Bounty Station. Learn more
Bounty Station: A marked spot on the Hajin map where a Wanted player pays off the debt and hunters buy intel to find the target, shown as a shrinking circle. Learn more
Boss Board: Part of the DMZ base, unlocked after the second DMZ Order, that gathers the Lieutenants (who require intel) and the Commanders (always present in Hajin). Learn more
Lieutenants: DMZ bosses that only appear with intel, bought or unlocked through challenges. They drop cash, a unique weapon and a Dog Tag Case, but picking up the case reveals your position to everyone. Learn more
Commanders: DMZ bosses always present in Hajin that need no intel: Colossus, an armored soldier with a minigun, Deathstalker, a drone, and a battle tank. Learn more
Vendor: Part of the DMZ base, unlocked at level 5, that trades DMZ Cash for weapons and items, with offers that change from time to time. Learn more
Dog Tag Case: A case dropped by DMZ Lieutenants and also a part of the base, unlocked at level 20. Whoever picks up a Lieutenant's case has their position revealed, so the official guide advises exfilling quickly. Learn more
Weapon Manual: A DMZ item that must be found and exfilled with before the mode's Gunsmith sells that kind of weapon. Learn more
Squad Fill: An option on the screen before a DMZ infil that adds two allied players for someone going in alone. Learn more
Survival Kits: Gear packs at the DMZ base, available from the start, so you do not enter Hajin empty-handed. The official guide suggests never leaving without a vest, Backpack, weapon and med kit. Learn more
DMZ resources: Metals, Electronics, Synthetics and Chemicals: they break down automatically and take no Backpack space. Together with ingredients, they become gear and upgrades in the 3D printer. Learn more
DMZ Player Level: A level track just for DMZ, from 1 to 70, separate from the 55 Modern Warfare 4 levels. It rises with XP from the mode's missions and activities, even when the exfil fails; multiplayer and Warzone XP do not count. Learn more
Threat Level: An indicator under the compass in DMZ that measures how the game's soldiers react, not other players. It goes from Low to Medium, High, Critical and Extreme: noise raises it and calls reinforcements; staying hidden lowers it. Each major Hajin location also has its own level. Learn more
Hunt Squad: A group of soldiers DMZ sends after the player once the count of downed enemies fills up; whoever is hunted is marked. Learn more
Radiation storm: In Hajin's DMZ, the threat that closes in over time and marks the end of an infil: you must exfil before it arrives. Learn more
Side Ops: Lower-intensity DMZ tasks, such as repairing trucks, climbing radio towers, activating UAV Towers or taking down SAM Sites. They pay and can reveal positions. Learn more
Tac-Map: The game's large map, split into squares with letters west to east and numbers north to south (the official guide cites D7, Imjin Farmland). It shows Gas Stations, Fire Stations, Police Stations, Clinics and exfils. Learn more
After Action Report: The screen at the end of each DMZ infil: it shows what was collected and gives a grade from F to S++, adding up objectives, combat and looting, with the XP for each part. Learn more